Rising Moon (The Rune Stone Trilogy) (21 page)

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

             
The air became increasingly cooler the farther they went into October. Aylin wore a lined white fleece with two layers of long sleeves underneath, a knitted snowcap and mittens, just so she could sit out on the pier by the marina. She liked being near the water, and would go to great lengths to make that possible. She liked the way the rocks looked orange underwater here. On a clear day the bottom of the lake still couldn’t be seen, giving the illusion it was a bottomless deep blue lake. She believed this would be as close as she could get to the ocean.

             
It was hard to believe her and El had been away from Willoughby Island for a few weeks now. Their first week in Lancaster Bay had been so busy with discovering a new town, and arguing over Blake. Now that Blake knew, he had avoided all of them for almost two weeks. Aylin knew it was hard for Terra to try to give Blake some time, especially since they lived in such a small town and they passed by each other on the street every other day.

             
After a few days of shuffling, unpacking, and more shuffling, Aylin and El were settled into Terra's home. Terra had completely opened her house to them, and they made themselves at home. El had shipped a lot of their supplies for working with herbs, and had taken over one end of the dining room table to work. She spent most of her days infusing oils and lotions with herbs, and she now had a full stock of salves and teas at the ready.

             
Aylin helped with the herbs, but El had a system down and worked well by herself. Instead of pestering El, or hanging out in Terra's bookstore, which she had done for a few days, she decided she wanted to discover the town. She spend most of her time on the point, but she also frequented the art and photo galleries. Once in awhile she would look for Finn again in the woods, but he had disappeared.

             
The sound of shoes scuffing on the cement behind her made her whip her head around. Blake stood a few feet away with his hands tucked tightly into his pockets.
"
Hey.
"
He didn’t smile.

             
"
Hello,
"
she said cautiously. She wasn’t in the mood for another round with him.

             
"
Can I buy you a coffee?
"

             
She frowned at him.
"
What?
"

             
"
Don’t make this any harder on me. Please?
"

             
"
Um, okay.
"
She stood up, dusted off her pants, and followed him along the pier. They walked in silence on the road that passed the rocky beach. The waves rolled across the lake, crashing into the shore. The hypnotic sound filled the silence between them. Aylin found herself swaying with the water.

             
The café was just on the other side of Highway 61. Blake kept his eyes straight ahead, and didn’t waver either way. Aylin let her eyes drift around the road ahead of them. Walking on the other side of the highway was a young woman radiating a soft violet aura, and she winked at Aylin. Aylin nodded in acknowledgement and then looked away. Finn had been right, this area was quite busy with creatures.

             
Back on Willoughby Island it was a rare occurrence for Aylin to see another faerie. If she came across one it was a tourist, and they would quickly avert their eyes from her. She wasn’t entirely sure what she looked like to other faeries, but El had told her that she didn’t have just a mere glow around her. Her glow was as bright as the moon, and wherever she pointed her focus the radiance would travel with her sight.

             
Once they were inside the warm café, both had their hands around the hot mugs of coffee, she waited quietly to hear what he had to say. He was looking around the café, making sure no one was sitting too close to overhear the conversation he wanted to have with her.
"
So, I guess I owe you an apology.
"

             
"
For what?
"

             
Now he glared at her.
"
You know what. I said some harsh things to you, and now I know you did have good intentions with my sister.
"

             
She blew her breath out and tried smiling at him.
"
So you believe us? I never gave you a reason to think I was lying.
"

             
"
I don’t trust anyone I don’t know.
"
He sipped his coffee.

             
"
That’s good. It will keep you safe.
"
She took a deep breath. She caught herself literally focusing on making sure he didn’t spill his coffee.

             
"
You know, if you all had just told me from the start than I wouldn’t have said those things to you.
"

             
"
And how would that have gone? If Terra had come home the night she found out what she was and told you, what would have been your reaction?
"
She crossed her arms.

             
He shrugged.
"
I probably would have thrown her on the first ferry off that island and taken her to the first doctor I could find to get her head checked out.
"
He shook his head.
"
But I could have done something if I knew she was in danger.
"

             
She looked away from him.
"
It wasn’t an option. I don’t trust anybody but El and Terra.
"

             
He leaned in.
"
You can trust me.
"

             
"
Can I?
"
She decided to be blatantly honest with him.
"
I know Terra does, and somehow El does too. I’m not sure how that happened so quickly, and maybe it has to do with your good looks.
"
She sighed.
"
My father died protecting me and my secret. He trusted me to go to the same lengths if I needed to, and here I am, going against everything I have learned, talking to you about it.
"

             
"
Your father was killed?
"

             
She nodded.
"
He was one of the protectors before us,
"
she said sadly.
"
Maybe now you will realize how serious this is, and how important it is to tell no one about it.
"

             
"
I don’t plan on telling anyone, I can keep a secret just fine. So that is what you meant.
"
He leaned back, watching her carefully.
"
Back on the island when you told me that you weren’t putting Terra in danger. You never denied that she was in danger, just made a point to me that it wasn’t you.
"

             
"
Yes. That night I came close to following in my father’s footsteps. It was why we were at the house, to make sure Terra hadn’t been hurt.
"
She nodded.

             
"
You know this is a lot to wrap my head around. I’m coming around, but it still sounds so crazy to me.
"
He pushed a hand through his thick hair and the slight movement sent a shift of air in her direction. He was having an inner battle, and having a hard time controlling it and keeping it under the surface. She could almost taste the frustration. Only now he had different reasons. He was still worried about Terra’s safety, but now he knew exactly what they were fighting to protect her against.

             
She finished her coffee before she answered him.
"
We’ve changed your view on your world, it’s not as you thought. It’s enough to drive one crazy.
"

             
"
True.
"
Now he leaned forward.
"
But that’s not me. I’m not running away screaming. I’m sticking around, and I want to help.
"

             
Aylin chewed on her lip. This was not what she wanted. She knew Terra wanted him to know so he would get off her back, and it will stop the questioning. But there was no way he could carry their burden, he wasn’t meant to be one of them. She had to choose her words wisely because she didn’t want to flare his temper that simmered below the surface.
"
Your knowledge of us is enough. Terra needs support from you. But I can’t let you stand and fight with us, if it comes to that. The worst case scenario is we all perish, then it will fall on your lap now to cover it up.
"

             
She had gone too far. His eyes blazed, and his brow creased.
"
That’s why I should be there with you all. I wouldn’t let that happen.
"

             
Aylin smiled.
"
That’s not your duty, Blake. That’s my final word. I have bent the rules too much as it is. You will have to settle for that. Thank you for the coffee, and I hope now we can be more civil toward each other?
"
She stood.

             
Blake bit down on his argument; it would have to wait for another time.
"
Of course. I might even stretch as far as to call you a friend.
"

             
Now Aylin let out a laugh.
"
I wouldn’t push it.
"
She winked, and left him sitting alone.

             
Terra had spent almost an hour at the grocery store picking up everything El had said she needed for the kitchen to be well stocked. She had promised to start giving Terra cooking lessons, but refused to start until she had the proper staples. She had to make three trips from her car into the kitchen, and now her counters were full of brown grocery bags. She was unloading the first bag when El appeared next to her.
"
Let me unpack for you, I did some rearranging this morning. There was complete chaos in this kitchen!
"
She waved her aside.

             
Terra willingly sat down at the kitchen table.
"
Great, so now that I know what I’m looking for, I won’t be able to find it.
"
She tugged on the cuffs of her sweater. She was by no means a fashionable person, but being around El always made her feel uncomfortable with her clothing taste.

             
"
No, now you will be able to find it. Your kitchen makes sense now. All your baking dishes are together, frying pans have their own shelf, I put your glasses in the cupboard closest to the sink, and all your food is going in the pantry. Did you know that the pantry’s purpose is for food?
"
She raised an eyebrow at her, with a smirk on her lips.

             
"
You don’t say,
"
Terra snapped.

             
"
What is that you’re wearing?
"
El turned with a hand on her hip.

             
"
What’s wrong with it?
"
Her voice raised an octave with defensiveness.

             
"
First, it makes you look like you don’t have a figure. Second, the color is all wrong. You shouldn’t wear black, stick to dark brown if you must. We need to go shopping soon.
"
El returned to unloading the groceries into the pantry.